Burden of viral respiratory infections in the pediatric intensive care unit: age, virus distribution, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlabelled: Though usually self-limiting, viral respiratory infections can escalate to severe cases requiring admission to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This study aims to examine the proportional incidence, affected age ranges, viral pathogens involved, associated severity measures, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their incidence and virus distribution. This retrospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary care center (2011-2021) reviewed all pediatric patients admitted to PICU with laboratory-confirmed viral respiratory infection.

Detection of breast cancer in digital breast tomosynthesis with vision transformers.

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) has revolutionized more traditional breast imaging through its three-dimensional (3D) visualization capability that significantly enhances lesion discernibility, reduces tissue overlap, and improves diagnostic precision as compared to conventional two-dimensional (2D) mammography. In this study, we propose an advanced Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) system that harnesses the power of vision transformers to augment DBT's diagnostic efficiency. This scheme uses a neural network to glean attributes from the 2D slices of DBT followed by post-processing that considers features from neighboring slices to categorize the entire 3D scan.

Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Associated Acute Appendicitis in Children.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) is an infectious pathogen associated with acute appendicitis; however, it is not consistently addressed by empirical antibiotic therapy, despite potential complications.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of PSA-associated acute appendicitis in children.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis involving pediatric patients who underwent acute appendicitis surgery and had positive peritoneal cultures.

Prevalence, Predictors, and Cross-Resistance of Community-Acquired Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections in Israel.

This retrospective study evaluates the incidence and risk factors of community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs) linked to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBLPE). The study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in northern Israel and included children younger than 18 years with CA-UTIs due to Enterobacterales who were admitted to the emergency department, during the years 2017 to 2019. Among the 570 children, 9.

Granagard administration prolongs the survival of human mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

The clinical effect of human Mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) transplanted into EAE mice/MS patients is short lived due to poor survival of the transplanted cells. Since Granagard, a nanoformulation of pomegranate seed oil, extended the presence of Neuronal Stem cells transplanted into CJD mice brains, we tested whether this safe food supplement can also elongate the survival of hMSCs transplanted into EAE mice. Indeed, pathological studies 60 days post transplantation identified human cells only in brains of Granagard treated mice, concomitant with increased clinical activity.

The Impact of Respiratory Symptoms on the Risk of Serious Bacterial Infection in Febrile Infants < 60 Days Old.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the impact of respiratory symptoms and positive viral testing on the risk of serious bacterial infections (SBIs).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted that included infants (0-60 days) presenting with a fever between 2001 and 2022 at a tertiary hospital in northern Israel. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were collected, and risk factors for SBIs were analyzed.

Pseudomonas Bacteremia in Children: Clinical and Microbiologic Features and Risk Factors of Mortality: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Pseudomonas bacteremia is most commonly acquired in hospital. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features and antibiotic susceptibility, mortality rate and risk factors of mortality in children with Pseudomonas bacteremia.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study that included children 18 years of age or younger admitted to a tertiary hospital with Pseudomonas bacteremia between 2005 and 2020.

The Role of Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in the Management of Brucellosis: An Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Diagnosis of focal infection in brucellosis is important to direct optimal treatment. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) may be helpful in this aspect.

Methods: The clinical and imaging data of all patients with brucellosis, who underwent FDG PET/CT as part of the investigation in Rambam Health Care Campus, where FDG PET/CT became the recommended imaging modality for suspected focal infection in brucellosis since 2016, were analyzed retrospectively.

Evaluation of Pediatric Screening for Resistant Pathogens in an Israeli Tertiary Center.

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide problem associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To evaluate multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria carriage in selected populations.

Methods: Data were collected from all patients under 18 years who met our internal guidelines from 2015-2016.

Predictive factors for focal disease in human brucellosis, an observational cohort study.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to identify predictors for focal disease in human brucellosis. The study included patients with brucellosis diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2021. Overall, 247 patients were identified.

Six-Year Surveillance of Acquired Bloodstream Infection in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Israel.

Objectives: We studied profile of the bloodstream infections (BSI) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and identified predictors of mortality.

Methods: The study collected data from hospital records for children younger than 18-years who developed BSI during their PICU stay between 2014 and 2019.

Results: In 114 patients, 136 PICU-acquired BSIs with 152 pathogens were documented.

Brainstem auditory pathway maturation in term neonates with congenital cytomegalovirus infection: a cohort study.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMVi) is a leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and developmental delay. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) recording allows assessment of central auditory pathway maturation in neonates. We aimed to characterize the effect of cCMVi on the maturation of the brainstem auditory pathway in term neonates.

Predictors of unfavorable outcome in children hospitalized with influenza and differences in clinical presentation among serotypes.

Background: Apart from age and underlying disease, predictors of adverse outcome in children hospitalized with influenza are poorly understood.

Objectives: Our goal is to determine clinical and laboratory predictors that help identify children at increased risk for an unfavorable course and identify differences in clinical presentation between serotypes.

Study Design: A retrospective, observational cohort study conducted at the Rambam Healthcare Campus in Haifa.

Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation on Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Neurofilament light chains (NF-L) were shown to serve as a reliable biomarker of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). The chemokine receptor CXCL13 was shown to correlate with CNS inflammatory activity and to predict the future progression of MS.

Objective: To evaluate the levels of NF-L and CXCL13 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in patients with progressive MS.

A high percentage of hospital-acquired neonatal bacteraemia but rare resistance to standard antibiotic regimens.

Aim: We examined community and hospital-acquired bacteraemia, namely bloodstream infections or meningitis, and looked at the clinical features and outcomes of cases.

Methods: The study comprised infants under 3 months of age, who were admitted to a tertiary referral centre in northern Israel with bacteraemia from 2010-2019. Causative pathogens, antibiotic susceptibility and mortality were retrospectively recorded.

NonTuberculous Mycobacteria Blood Stream Infection in Pediatric and Adult Patients: 15 Years Surveillance.

Background: Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) are rare causes of bloodstream infection (BSI). This study addresses the management and prognosis of NTM BSI and the differences between adult and pediatric patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients at any age with NTM BSI, from January 1, 2005, to June 30, 2020.

Individual Meropenem Clearance in Infants on ECMO and CVVHDF is Difficult to Predict: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Objectives: Meropenem is a broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotic with mostly renal excretion. Conflicting data are available regarding meropenem pharmacokinetics in critically ill neonates on concomitant continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Our objectives were to assess meropenem clearance in a neonate on CRRT and ECMO, compare it to previously published data and assess whether dose recommendations can be generalized in this population.

A phase II clinical trial with repeated intrathecal injections of autologous mesenchymal stem cells in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were shown to induce beneficial effects in animal models of neurodegeneration and in pilot human trials in multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). : An open-label, clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of repeated intrathecal administrations of autologous-MSC in ALS-patients. : The study included 20 subjects (age: 20-70) with definite diagnosis of ALS and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale Revised (ALSFRS-R) score of >20.

Rapid methicillin resistance diversification in Staphylococcus epidermidis colonizing human neonates.

Early in life, infants are colonized with multiple bacterial strains whose differences in gene content can have important health consequences. Metagenomics-based approaches have revealed gene content differences between different strains co-colonizing newborns, but less is known about the rate, mechanism, and phenotypic consequences of gene content diversification within strains. Here, focusing on Staphylococcus epidermidis, we whole-genome sequence and phenotype more than 600 isolates from newborns.

Long-Term Clinical and Immunological Effects of Repeated Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injections in Patients With Progressive Forms of Multiple Sclerosis.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were shown to possess immunomodulatory and neurotrophic effects. Our previous trials, have shown that intrathecal (IT) and intravenous (IV) administration of MSCs were safe and provided indications of beneficial clinical effects. This is an open prospective study to evaluate the safety and the long-term clinical and immunological effects of multiple injections of autologous MSCs in 24 patients with active-progressive MS.

Concomitant congenital CMV infection and inherited liver diseases.

Inherited liver diseases may present in infancy as cholestatic jaundice progressing to severe hepatic dysfunction. Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection may initially involve the liver, yet in otherwise healthy hosts rarely leads to long-term hepatic disease. We report a series of three patients, diagnosed with hereditary liver diseases: progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) type IV, alpha 1 anti-trypsin deficiency (A1ATD) and Alagille syndrome (ALGS), who were also diagnosed with cCMV infection.

Factors associated with complicated pneumonia in children.

Introduction: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity in children, despite advances in health care and anti-pneumococcal vaccine. Complicated pneumonia accounts for a significant burden with prolonged hospitalization. Finding risk factors for complicated pneumonia may help in tailoring management.